Love Binds the Universe: Full Moon in Leo 2015

Image by NASA via Wikimedia Commons.

Full Moon @ 14 Leo 48' 

February 3, 2015

6:09 PM Eastern

3:09 PM Pacific

Gravity is the binding force of the macroscopic universe. Without it, nothing would coalesce—planets wouldn’t form and stars would collapse. It is gravity that holds this whole thing together. The orbits of the planets around the Sun, the spiraling cycles of stars around the galactic center, and the movement of galaxies around their own aggregate gravitational centers—all would cease to exist in gravity’s absence.

According to Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, objects with mass occupying space leave an imprint within space itself, creating a field around it that pulls surrounding objects (with less mass) toward or around it. From our perspective, the Sun is the center of gravity in the solar system; though we know that the Sun itself is subject to the larger gravitational fields generated by other massive objects as well as the galactic center which it orbits entirely roughly every 250 million years.

That’s quite a bit to take in, and it’s a perspective that serves us very little from our subjective viewpoint here on Earth. For our purposes, we know that gravity keeps our feet firmly planted on the ground. That’s all we really deal with. It may be equally enlightening to realize that gravity is a constant force, much like the speed of light. So, while physicists have given it a name and have painstakingly described it through mathematical equations, we still don’t fully understand it.

Perhaps, gravity is like love—binding all things together in a way that nothing else can. Gravity may feel limiting, keeping us stuck in a specific time and place, but it’s the very thing that increases complexity and fuels the evolutionary process. From an occult or astrological perspective, the Sun is the very heart and engine of the mind itself—the center of gravity of consciousness. And so we come to a very powerful realization: gravity exists only in the mind as does the Sun and all the stars that we see in the sky.

Imagine that. When you look up at the sky and notice the Moon or the planets (with the exception of certain trans-Neptunian objects like Pluto) all orbiting along a specific plane—you are witnessing the Sun’s gravitational field as it extends outward through the solar system. But that very field is something the mind itself has created, which doesn’t make it any less awesome or real. At the end of the day, the mind’s perception is all we really know and fully perceive.

The entire Universe is contained in the mind. This is the heart of the “how” of astrology, and something those with an overtly scientific mentality will never fully comprehend. Astrology works because the planets, the stars, and even the fictitious tropical zodiac all exist in the mind which is inseparable from waking consciousness. The solar system is a mind map because it is the mind--as are the laws of physics which must change as our perception widens and becomes all-encompassing.

This month's lunar cycle culminates in tropical Leo—the sign we associate with the Sun. It also conjoins Jupiter—the largest planet in our solar system with a gravitational force that actually rivals that of the Sun. When I think about this Full Moon, I think gravitas and magnanimity. As the current lunar cycle culminates, it carries tremendous weight and force that is rather attractive—in a gravitational sense.

This Full Moon is about picking up the pieces, pulling things together, regaining trust, confidence, and channeling powerful creative energy and enthusiasm toward positive goals or objectives. This is rather quite fitting because we are a little bit past the midpoint of Mercury’s retrograde cycle, which often has us deconstructing something to ultimately build it back up—whether that be an actual project, palpable thing, viewpoint or perspective. So, this Full Moon kind of pulls it together in a way that will leave us feeling a little more grounded and rooted.

Gravity is also a supporting force. By keeping our feet firmly rooted to the Earth’s surface, we have this sense of something that supports us, that holds us all together. While we may not understand it, we have learned to trust this mysterious force; we allow it to guide us. And ditto with love. While equally mysterious, we must trust the flow of love in our life and allow it to guide us as well, wherever it may lead us. Gravity, love, creativity, desire and passion—they are the forces that keep us coming back to this place in time and space, but perhaps, they are equally the forces, that once exhausted, will ultimately set us free. 

If you're interested in personal readings/consultations, please e-mail me directly at kosmicmind@gmail.com. 

Transcending the Consensus: New Moon and Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius 2015

A man entwined in the coils of DNA; scraperboard drawing by Bill Sanderson,
1990. Wellcome Library, London.

New Moon @ 0 Aquarius 09'

Jan 20, 2015

5:14 AM Pacific

8:14 AM Eastern

In times such as these, it becomes increasingly pertinent to question reality, and above all, to question authority. Human beings have entered a new landscape precipitated by a paradigmatic shift unique to the current historical timeline. That shift came about rapidly when William Hershel realized that a tiny dot, that appeared to be moving, was not a star, but a planet, a new world beyond the temporal boundary of Saturn. And Earth was never quite the same.

When Uranus was finally acknowledged, an electrical surge permeated the planet and awakened humanity to a new realization: there is something beyond time and space and we can access it--we can harness it. No longer were the “higher realms” something that an elite faction of kings and priests had exclusive dominion over. It was available to all, but it came at a price.

The acquisition of higher knowledge requires hard work, commitment, an open-mind, and immense responsibility. When the mind widens to something that challenges its conditioned beliefs, it can be shocking and sometimes overwhelming to the psyche. It’s no wonder that the “tree of knowledge” was forbidden by God in the Garden of Eden, or that the fire was a heavily coveted treasure amongst the Olympian pantheon.

The modern, tropical sign of Aquarius, which holds space for this New Moon, derives its symbolism from the constellation of the Water Bearer. Tropical Aquarius and the Water Bearer are not the same things but are archetypically linked. The Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire to give to humanity, derived from an ancient Mesopotamian tale of Enki—who saved a few choice human beings and other specimens from a great deluge against the commands of other Gods.

Modern astrologers attach the Promethean mythos to Uranus and by extension Aquarius, because Uranus just doesn’t quite cover it. Sure, the sky god is an appropriate symbol for Uranus, but its innately rebellious and revolutionary streak can have no other origin, in an archetypal sense, then Enki and Prometheus. Thus, those born with a strong Uranian or Aquarian nature seek out the unusual and are rather acquainted with the notion that to acquire truth and understanding, one must transcend the consensus, one must challenge conditioned perceptions.

If it weren’t for this realization, we wouldn’t have the world we have today. We wouldn’t have this technologically-driven society, the scientific method or the template of democracy (however roughly adhered to). We are here now. We are moving towards the stars and there’s no going back. But just because something beyond Saturn was discovered, doesn’t mean that the consensus group-think doesn’t still exist. Saturn, while no longer the last step in our collective, evolutionary process, is still there and must be respected. We must respect our boundaries and limitations if we wish to survive, but Uranus and Aquarius remind us that the knowledge and potential, to transcend them, exists within each of us.

As the Sun and Moon join together at the entry of Aquarius, and Mercury comes to a standstill before its retrograde cycle, we’re invited to seek the unusual and challenge our perceptions in a way that allows for an expansion of reality. This New Moon suggests that to bring something new into our lives we must do things differently. We must think in some new and unusual way.  Change is refreshing, but also terrifying. Defying our personal or collective beliefs is difficult work because it threatens who we think we are and what we have come to identify with.

If you want to achieve great things, if you want to transform stifling circumstances, you have to transcend your perceived limitations by taking that first step off the precipice of time. Mercury’s retrograde motion reminds us, however, that there’s no need to rush. We can take our time. In fact, Mercury’s retrograde through Aquarius (Jan. 21 through Feb. 11) is a time to gradually get comfortable with these emerging insights and realizations.

Saturn is the traditional or primary “ruler” of Aquarius. Saturn recently moved into Sagittarius (Dec. 24), though it will retrograde back into Scorpio (June 16) once more before fully committing to Sagittarius (Sept. 19, 2015). Saturn in Sagittarius will assist us in finding our place in the world and in solidifying our faith in the universe--on a collective and subtle individual level (unless it touches some point of personal significance).

As this New Moon commences, Mars and Neptune are separating from a conjunction in Pisces square Saturn in Sagittarius. This presents the challenge to persevere in the face of the unknown, in the face of fear. Aquarius needs to shake things up, and our hesitancy to do so now is completely justified. What if we upset things? What if we offend other people in the process?

In order to find our place in the world and the universe, we have to take some risks. It isn’t always easy, but the rewards are worth the challenges. To be true to ourselves sometimes requires that we make other people or even ourselves uncomfortable. There is no getting around that fact. We are creatures of comfort and we like predictable routines. But those routines so often cause stagnation and prevent us from moving forward.

The evolutionary process moves on with or without us. While ultimately non-linear, the universe, that we perceive, is ever changing and guided by some unfathomable intelligence. The Aquarian double current is the twofold pathway to wisdom and understanding. There is a way upward and downward, and both paths are essential for soul growth and maturation. Whatever we choose in life, we’ll learn from it and ultimately grow.

To the ego, there is a right way and a wrong way, or a more or less ideal way to go. But to the soul, all experiences provide us with lessons and all choices lead us eventually to wholeness. There is a very personal, paradigmatic shift approaching for each of us with this lunation. Can we defy our fears to see what’s behind the veil of our illusions? Can we trust the universe enough to provide us with the experiences most needed to further our evolutionary growth? Only time will tell, but the more receptive we are now, and the more willing we are to accept the unthinkable, the less painful or shocking it will be.

Retrograde Logistics

Mercury turns stationary retrograde the day after this New Moon. All the usual advice applies here. Don’t freak out and there’s no need to go lock yourself in a closet for the next three weeks. Life goes on when Mercury turns retrograde. We make decisions and choices just like any other time. But we may want to reconsider rushing too hastily forward at these times, especially because we’re in a process of revision and reassessment (basically anything with a re prefix works well at these times).

Mercury retrograde is a time to be particularly mindful and conscious of what you’re doing and to have an open-mind. As human beings, we’ll never have all the knowledge that exists. Our perceptual frameworks are constantly changing and being revised. It’s during these times that the universe invites us to see things differently and to expand our personal and collective points of view. That often happens quite unexpectedly during a retrograde, so be prepared for it.

During Mercury’s stations (in this case the days of and surrounding Jan. 21 and Feb. 11) things can get a little hectic and glitchy. This usually applies to electronics, machinery, and equipment. Because Aquarius is a sign we associate with technology, we can expect this to be exceptionally pronounced more so than usual (though Mercury retrograde is often hard to predict, so don’t hold that against me here). Just be extra mindful of your communications around these times and make sure that things are clear and well-explained.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications are another common Mercury retrograde hang-up and they can sometimes end up quite costly. But these are also rather exciting times. The mind is getting debugged and our timeline rearranged. And to quote author Lewis Hyde, “the agile mind is pleased to find what it was not looking for.” It’s the sudden and unexpected paths that are the most rewarding in life, and Mercury retrograde is notorious for throwing them our way. 

I am available for personal readings and consultations; please e-mail me directly at kosmicmind@gmail.com or visit my page for more information.

The Heart of the Matter: Full Moon in Cancer 2015

An artist's impression of the binary star system, Sirius A and B;
photo by NASA, ESA and G. Bacon. Sirius A and its companion, Sirius B,
a blue white-dwarf star, revolve around each other every 50 years. Only
8.6 light years away, these companion stars are fairly close to home,
the fifth closest stellar system that astronomers are currently aware of.
Doesn't Sirius B look rather tiny? It's actually smaller than our home planet, yet 
its surface temperature is actually hotter than Sirius A.
Crazy, eh?

Full Moon @ 14 Cancer 31' 

Jan 4, 2015

8:53 PM Pacific

11:53 PM Eastern

One of the greatest challenges of being a sensitive, empathic individual is the inevitability of having to face the world—a world that can be cruel, unyielding and seemingly unfair. It is a painful thing to realize, as a sensitive soul, that you must somehow harden yourself just to get by and survive on this planet. Not all of us are so sensitive; many people have developed a thick skin quite early on in life due to certain conditioning factors. But those of a strong Cancerian, lunar or fourth house nature will have to deal with that harsh and challenging adjustment throughout their entire lives. Other mitigating astrological factors will either ease that process or make it exceedingly difficult.

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The tropical sign of Cancer holds space for this Full Moon following the New Year transition and the end of the holiday season. This Full Moon brings to light our vulnerabilities and amplifies sensitivity, even if we aren’t particularly wired for that heightened awareness. To make things even more interesting, this month’s Full Moon finds itself in the crossfire of the Uranus/Pluto square forming a grand cross with the Sun conjunct Pluto and Uranus sideswiping from Aries conjunct the Nodal axis. That dynamic contact exposes our intimate and personal lives with that of the collective—political, economic or ideological influences. 

As many people across the western world set their New Years’ resolutions, they can’t help but feel slightly beleaguered by a sense of uncertainty and maybe a slight pessimism. Recent events in the world’s political and economic arenas have given us all good reason to remain alert and committed to realism. But the greatest challenge of all is to maintain our connection to our heart’s true calling while remaining fully conscious of the obstacles that lie ahead of us and which seek to prevent us from pursuing it.

As this Full Moon comes to a climax in the sky, hovering directly above one of the brightest stars, Sirius (the “dog star”; though actually a binary star system comprised of two stars, Sirus A and B), it symbolizes the awareness of a higher calling, purpose and mission which may not be concretely defined but can be intuitively sensed. The heart is calling us outward to participate in the world, though the path or destination may be unclear. This lunation comes with the realization that full participation in life requires that we break out of our comfort zone and make some compromises without completely shutting off our sensitivity and emotional awareness. 

To embrace the transformative quality of this Full Moon, we must do so cautiously and gently, that is we must not lose sight of our vulnerabilities and limitations—aware of the risks and dangers we may encounter. Pluto’s conjunction with the Sun in Capricorn urges us to embrace and honor what we’re really feeling without getting too overwhelmed or caught up in it. One way to do that is through Mercury and Venus’ conjunction in Aquarius: to openly communicate our feelings with others to receive a detached perspective of ourselves and what we’re experiencing. 

In order to rise up and take on the world, we often need to go inward to acknowledge those aspects of our unconscious nature that often get ignored. The external world is a mirror of the world within ourselves and it simply reflects those things we do not usually perceive. Take some time to acknowledge yourself with this Full Moon. Hold space for your fears, vulnerabilities and those deeply embedded feelings you have forgotten about or disregarded. When we are comfortable with ourselves, regardless of external circumstances, then we will have the strength and capacity to change the world, and that takes a certain level of sensitivity, a sensitivity that the world truly needs right now.

Note--Mercury will turn retrograde this month, believe it or not. We enter the shadow phase on Jan. 5 and Mercury turns stationary retrograde on Jan. 21. I will cover this along with the New Moon in Aquarius which occurs the day before the retrograde begins. Get ready for a wonky and glitchy New Moon, everyone!

Happy Gregorian New Year!

I am available for personal readings; please contact me directly by e-mail: kosmicmind@gmail.com